Fort Meade: Celebrating Hispanic-American heritage

Phil Grout / For Capital Gazette

Korean War veteran Ismael Torres was honored during a Sept. 26 celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Torres is a retired Coast Guard chief petty officer. He was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all Puerto Rican regiment.

Korean War veteran Ismael Torres was honored during a Sept. 26 celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Torres is a retired Coast Guard chief petty officer. He was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all Puerto Rican regiment. (Phil Grout / For Capital Gazette)

Lisa Rhodes

As dozens of audience members listened to guest speakers, the sound of a Spanish guitar and trumpet abruptly blasted through the room at Fort George G. Meade.

A four-member mariachi band casually walked in, playing music as it made its way to the front of the ballroom at Club Meade.

This year’s theme is “Hispanics: One Endless Voice To Enhance Our Traditions.”

“It’s a pleasure to represent my culture — our culture — here today,” Flores said as he took the podium. “It really means a lot to me when I hear the stories of Chief Officer Torres and all the sacrifices (he) and (his) family made.”

Flores is counter-weapons of mass destruction targeting officer and liaison for U.S. Special Operations Command. He spent the majority of his speech highlighting his military career and noting the importance of honoring different cultures within the Army.

The observance’s climax was after Flores’ speech when Torres was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Sam Rodriguez, national committee member for the award, presented the medal.

Torres was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all Puerto Rican regiment that fought during the Korean War. It was the last Army unit to desegregate and was also the last Army unit to conduct a bayonet assault during combat.

Due to institutionalized racism in the U.S. Armed Forces at the time, Torres only received the Defense Service Medal and the Korea Service Medal upon his departure from the Army as a corporal. He joined the Coast Guard two months after leaving the Army.

After retiring from the Coast Guard, he was able to correct his military records and obtain the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Medal and Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

“This medal is not for me,” Torres said at the podium. “(It’s) for all the Borinqueneers (of the 65th Infantry Regiment).”

During his closing remarks, Garrison Commander Col. Erich C. Spragg noted the importance of recognizing Hispanic-Americans’ contributions to the Army, as well as Rodriguez’s and Torres’ powerful words.

After Spragg’s remarks, audience members lined up for empanadas and other light food samples.

“Sorry, but I think Mr. Torres stole the show,” Spragg said to Flores as he wrapped up the event.

Raising the bar

Patrick Van Buren exhaled as he lifted the bar bell and racked his weight.

“Lift is no good,” the FMWR spokesman said into the microphone.

After failing to bench-press 305 pounds, Van Buren frustratingly hopped off the bench and walked back to grab his water bottle.

Photos from the Fort Meade columns

Fort Meade Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation hosted its annual Raise the Bar Push-Pull Competition at Murphy Field House on Sept. 29. The event was open to service members, retired personnel and Department of Defense employees ages 18 and older.

The contest consisted of two events: bench press and deadlift. Participants could compete in one or both lifts.

“I like power-lifting,” Joshua Lowe said. “I like to compete.”

Like collegiate wrestling and mixed martial arts competitions, power-lifters have to make weight to compete. Lowe described his regimen for making weight while maintaining his strength.

“For this competition, I was eating … 12 eggs every day and one-and-a-half pounds of ground beef every day,” he said. “I weighed in at 199 so I could be in my weight class. I started drinking less water about three days up to (the weigh-in) so I could make weight.”

Early weigh-ins were held Sept. 28, the day before the competition. Participants also had the option of weighing in at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 90 minutes before the competition kicked off.

Lowe has been lifting for about 10 years, focusing on power-lifting two-to-three years ago. He is a contractor, working as a counter-intelligence analyst with the 902nd Military Intelligence Group. His best bench at the competition was 335 pounds — a personal record for him.

Fort Meade service members and civilians interested in participating in future competitions can call 301-677-2349 for more information.

CAPTION

Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

CAPTION

Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

CAPTION

Midshipman Megan Viohl, from Sevena Park, discusses her assignment as a surface warfare officer after she graduates the Naval Academy.

Midshipman Megan Viohl, from Sevena Park, discusses her assignment as a surface warfare officer after she graduates the Naval Academy.

CAPTION

Denise Robinson, of Odenton, searches for the grave of William H Whittington, who was the first person from Anne Arundel County to die during World War 1, while training at the Army's Camp McClellan in Alabama.

Denise Robinson, of Odenton, searches for the grave of William H Whittington, who was the first person from Anne Arundel County to die during World War 1, while training at the Army's Camp McClellan in Alabama.

CAPTION

Larry Lee Thomas, Apostle/Bishop & Senior Pastor at Empowering Believers Church of The Apostolic Faith, speaks about recent acts of racism and how he hopes the community will come together to stop it. He spoke before The United Black Clergy of Anne Arundel County meeting Friday evening at the Mount Zion – Magothy United Methodist Church regarding continuing racist incidents at Chesapeake High School.

Larry Lee Thomas, Apostle/Bishop & Senior Pastor at Empowering Believers Church of The Apostolic Faith, speaks about recent acts of racism and how he hopes the community will come together to stop it. He spoke before The United Black Clergy of Anne Arundel County meeting Friday evening at the Mount Zion – Magothy United Methodist Church regarding continuing racist incidents at Chesapeake High School.